Cotton-tie buckle.



No. 686,|29. Patented Nov. 5, I901. w. c. BAGSDALE & n. E. EDDLEMAN.

BUTTON TIE BUCKLE. (Application filed Mar. 26, 1901.j

(No Model.)

Wiiesszs NITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. RAGSDALE AND DUDLEY E. EDDLEMAN, OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ROBERT H. FELTON, OF WEATH- ERFORD, TEXAS.

COTTON-TIE BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,129, dated November 5, 1901.

Application filed March 26, 1901. Serial No. 52,967. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM C. RAGS- DALE and DUDLEY E. EDDLEMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at \Veatherford, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Tie Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-tie buckles; and the object of the same is to provide a device of this class that will prevent the band engaging the same from slipping, form a reliable securing means of a simple and cheap construction and also economize in the use of the band length,with considerable consequent savingin expense,the positive retention of the band by the improved device as required rendering the bale of uniform density and the strength of the device resisting breakage and the consequent expense of repair frequently necessary in the ordinary form of buckle-ties now in use.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of cotton-tie buckle embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the buckle. Fig. at is perspective view of a further form. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of an irregular bale,

showing the improved buckle thereon over the open space therein to hold the band without slipping.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a looped body having parallel side bars 2, a front end bar 3 in the same plane as the side bars, and a rear end bar 4, extended over and bent around the right side bar 2 and returned under the said end bar at a slight upward inclination to provide a laterally-directed support 5, which is continued beyond the left bar 2, the saidsupport having a forwardlyprojecting bearing-arm 6.

The right side bar 2 is continued at the rear in the form of an elbow 7, which also has a forwardly-projecting bearing-arm 8. The arms 6 and 8 are suitably spaced from the side bars 2, but parallel with the latter, and the ends of the said arms at the front terminate approximately flush with the front end bar 3. The device is made from a single piece of wire of suitable gage and preferably circular in cross-section, though other crossseotional contours may be adopted with equal efficiency. The improved device, as set forth, can be rapidly manufactured in view of its simplicity and by reason of the strength of the wire will be more durable and less liable to breakage. The bearing-arms 6 and 8 will be disposed in such relation to each other as to obtain the best securing results when the buckle is practically applied to a band.

The form of device shown byFig. 3 comprises a looped body 9, similar to the body 1 heretofore set forth and embodying opposite parallel side bars 10, a front end bar 11, and a rear end bar 12, which is bent over and terminally secured around the right side bar 10. The right side bar 10 is continued into a rear elbow 13, and from the latter extends a forwardly-projecting bearing-arm 14, which is parallel with the adjacent side bar of the body 9. In this form of the improved device only one bearing-arm is used, and when said form of device is practically applied one extremity of the band is secured in the said body 9 and the opposite extremity of the band is brought up under and through the opposite side of the body and then under the arm 14 and returned over the band for a distance equal to its length. Inthe application of the form of device first described the one end of the band is attached to one of the side bars 2 of the body by being passed around the same in a downward direction, as shown by Fig. 1 in dotted lines, and then carried under the band and adjacent arnif The opposite end of the band is passed upwardly through the body of the device from the under side of the same and then bent over the remaining unoccupied side bar 2 and then under the adjacent arm, as clearly shown.

The form of the device shown by Fig. 4 is a single-arm construction more nearly resembling the device shown by Figs. 1 and 2 and having thereon the same referencemumerals to represent corresponding parts, the diiference being the use of a single arm, and instead of the elbow 7 the part representing the same is bent around to form-a closed eye 15.

The preferred form of the buckle is that shown by Figs. 1 and 2, which overcomes the annoyance and heavy expense incident to the loose slipping engagement of the bands having the ordinary form of buckles thereon and also avoids the recompressin g of the bales which must necessarily ensue after a band has slipped and before it can be refastened. The improved device forms a clamp to hold the ends of the band in such positive manner as to prevent the ends of the bands from slipping out no matter how short the lap at either end of the band. The preferred form of the improved buckle, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, permits each band to be drawn up close and tight around the bale, so that each band exerts the same tension, and as neither band can slip at either of the ends of the same in the buckle an even smooth bale of cotton or other material results, which is held down to the greatest possible density. Furthermore, it a blade is irregularly compressed or becomes shaped during compression to have a curve on one side and a straight portion on the other or a depression along one side the improved preferred form of the buckle will serve with equal efiioiency in holding the bands. The buckle is strong and durable and does not have to be repaired, and unnecessary wear thereby on the bands is also avoided. Another great saving gained by the use of the preferred form of the improved buckle is in the length of the bands or ties, because the bight on the extremities of the band by the improved device is so firm that the laps of the same at the extremities need not be long, as is now necessary for the common form of buckle. In other Words, a band is now required to be about nine feet long to tie a bale with the ordinary buckles, whereas a band eight feet in length is sufficient for use with the improved buckle, thereby saving one foot of length on each band used,

which will obviously be an economy in expense, especially when considered in relation to a large number of bands.

In Fig. 3 an end elevation of an irregular bale is shown, and, as often happens in compressing cotton into bales, the latter will shift and assume the form shown. In the said Fig. 3 a band is shown around the bale, and connecting the ends of the said band is one of theimproved buckles heretofore set forth and preferably that shown by Figs. 1 and 2. It will be observed that the buckle is located over the open space or recess of the bale and clearly demonstrates that it is unnecessary to hold the opposite side of the buckle by pressure on the bale and illustrating one of the main advantages of the general use and application of the improved device. It is also proposed to use the improved buckle for fastening all kinds of bonding devices other than cotton-bale bands and to change the proportions, as well as the size of the same, to suit different applications. The improved device will also be manufactured either by hand or machinery, and in view of the simplicity of the same such manufacture can be rapidly pursued at a small cost and so that the sale price will be proportionately reduced.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a cotton-tie buckle comprising a looped body having one side continued into a bearing-arm parallel with said body and at a distance from the latter, interlocking bends being formed between portions of the body and arm.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a cotton-tie buckle comprising a looped body and bearing-arms transversely spaced apart from and parallel with opposite side edges thereof, the said arms being approximately of the same length as the body and having the entrance-openings thereto adjacent the same end of the latter.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. RAGSDALE. DUDLEY E. EDDLEMAN. Witnesses:

GUEST WHITAKER, D. L. SEXTON. 

